"Don't," said he. "I know just what the question would be, and at the present time I can't answer it. At this moment, except for some few theories that I have yet to verify, I am as much puzzled as yourself."
"But," and there was a tremble in the speaker's voice, "you must answer me, old chap—and you must answer now."
The catch in his voice, the expression upon the young man's face caused Ashton-Kirk to grasp an astonishing fact. The hand that he had laid upon Pendleton's shoulder tightened as he answered:
"Yes, Edyth Vale is concerned. As a rule I do not speak of my clients to others, but in view of what you have already heard and seen, it would be a waste of words to deny it. But, see here, there are lots of things we don't know yet about this business. It may look very different in a few hours. Come."
Pendleton gazed with sober eyes into the speaker's face for a moment. Then he said:
"Let us get the cab; if you are to go over Hume's rooms before dark, you haven't any too much time."
At the next corner they signaled a taxicab, and in a short time they were set down in Christie Place. Paulson, the policeman, was standing guard.
"How are you?" he greeted them affably.
"Been here all day?" asked Ashton-Kirk.
"Oh, no. Just come on. I'm the third shift since I saw you last."